Maybelline

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Color: Review & Swatches, Part 1

March 29th, 2016 by Adia Goss 27 Comments

The $6.99 Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Colors are, in a word, VIBRANT, and almost all of the colors go on fully opaque with a single layer, but despite what their name suggests, I didn’t find them to be particularly matte. I’d describe them as more satin, with some of them even appearing a bit glossy.

Also, they never quite completely dry down, and they aren’t nearly as transfer resistant as the liquid lipsticks by Kat Von D, ColourPop or Sephora.

That being said, they aren’t as drying either, so that’s a tradeoff.

I do love the color range and how comfortable they are, but I don’t love the incredibly strong scent or how easily they smudge and transfer. If you’re sensitive to fragrances, be very careful about these. Upon application, there’s a strong powdery floral scent (possibly freesia?) that’s still noticeable after 20 minutes (though less so). I also feel a bit of a tingle on my lips right after I apply them, but I’m not sure if it’s just a reaction to the scent or due to an actual ingredient.

It’s not painful, and it doesn’t make my lips red or swollen or anything like that, but it’s something I feel I should note.

Overall, if you’re looking for intense pigmentation in a comfortable, affordable liquid lipstick, these are worth checking out; however, if you’re looking for something long lasting (or you’re sensitive to fragrances!), you may be disappointed.

Here are first impressions and swatches of the first five shades (the nudes and pinks) — Nude Thrill, Nude Flesh, Pink Charge, Electric Pink and Berry Boost.

maybelline color sensational vivid matte liquid lip color — L to R: Nude Thrill, Nude Flesh, Pink Charge, Electric Pink and Berry Boost

Nude Thrill.

This one is very much my kind of nude lipstick. It goes on smoothly and opaque, even with one layer. The color really reminds me of Maybelline’s Truffle Tease.

Nude Flesh.

As you can see from the swatches, Nude Flesh looks similar to Nude Thrill, only with more pink. On my lips, the difference is more noticeable.

I think they’re both great nudes, and I can see myself wearing either one daily.

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4 Lipsticks I Love That No One Ever Talks About

March 25th, 2016 by Carolina Braina 31 Comments

Tarte LipSurgence Matte Lip Tint in Fiery on my lips

Well, I’m sure that some people did talk about them back when they were first released, but they seem to have fallen into oblivion in favor of more recent launches…

We beauty lovers are a little like spoiled children sometimes, don’t you think? We like our brand new toys for about 10 seconds, and then we want newer, shinier things to keep ourselves entertained. 🙂

But today is a different day, and I’m bringing back the love for four these not-so-recent lipsticks I absolutely adore!

NARS Pure Matte Lipstick Carthage Maybelline Superstay 14H Fuchsia Forever Tarte Matte Lip Tint Fiery Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick Rebellious Rose — Clockwise from the top left corner: Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in Rebellious Rose, Tarte LipSurgence Matte Lip Tint in Fiery, Maybelline SuperStay 14HR in Fuchsia Forever, and NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Carthage

Swatches NARS Pure Matte Lipstick Carthage Maybelline Superstay 14H Fuchsia Forever Tarte Matte Lip Tint Fiery Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick Rebellious Rose — L-R: NARS Carthage, Maybelline Fuchsia Forever, Tarte Fiery, Estée Lauder Rebellious Rose

1. NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Carthage ($28)

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5 Fabulously Affordable Fall Lipsticks

September 14th, 2015 by Karen 28 Comments

I have a tabby by my side (as opposed to on my lap — what’s up with that?), and I’m wearing a snuggly long-sleeved sweater and long pants to keep away the unseasonably fall-like chill outside.

I’m also wearing layers, as weird as that sounds, but it’s brisk and overcast outside. The leaves have even started to fall, and I’m seriously contemplating socks (toe oppression!).

Technically, it may not be “that time of year” yet, but I’m definitely getting a fall vibe.

There’s no way I’m ready for El Niño or the cold weather fall entails, but I do feel full-on ready for fall makeup, like these five fabulously affordable fall lipsticks that are all less than $10 each.

1. L’Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive in Blake’s Red ($8.99)

Blake, as in Lively, the lucky lady with the long, luscious blonde hair (and, um, Ryan — oh, what’s his name? Not Gosling! Ryan Reynolds, how dare I?! — Ryan Reynolds’ baby mama). L’Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive in Blake’s Red is her red addition to the L’Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive line.

Blake’s Red is a beauty of a neutral red, neither too warm nor cool, with an opaque demi-matte finish, and it won’t just work through fall. This one will also carry you through the holidays.

I love this lippie with classic fall looks, and it suits a wide range of skin tones. Wear it with a simple cat eye for something vintage, or a black or gray smoky eye (a la Robert Palmer’s Addicted to Love video), or metallic golden lids.

SO PRETTY!

Because it’s by L’Oreal, it has their very strong floral flavor and scent (both fade quickly), which folks seem to either love or hate. I don’t mind it at all.

It’s available now online for $8.99 and at drugstores and Ulta.

2. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipcolor in Toast of New York ($7.99)

This is so old-school, you guys! I wore this color back in the day, and it’s making a comeback again.

I feel like there have been an overabundance of dark browns with almost grayish undertones lately, and I like that look on some people, but I feel like it looks a little macabre on me. THIS kind of brown has a little yellow in it, and I think it makes it more wearable. The matte finish also has a hint of a shine to it.

It’s available now online for $7.99 and at drugstores and Ulta.

3. COVERGIRL Star Wars Limited Edition Colorlicious Lipstick in Dark Purple 50 ($6.99)

Do you think this lipstick is on the dark side or the light…? Ooh, Star Wars reference! Where’s my light saber, Tabs?! 🙂

This dark purple berry is a classic fall color. It’s from the new limited edition COVERGIRL Star Wars collection, and it has a creamy finish.

It’s also flexible. You can wear it as a stain by applying one layer, then blotting, or build it up like I’ve done here. I’m wearing three layers, so it looks a little vampy.

It’s available now online for $6.99 and at drugstores.
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With The Blushed Nudes Palette by Maybelline, Imitation Naked 3 Is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

May 18th, 2015 by Karen 15 Comments

maybelline blushed nudes — Maybelline’s $10 The Blushed Nudes Palette

On the drive to the NKOTB/TLC/Nelly concert in San Jose last week, my friend and fellow makeup lover Marisol asked if I would mind us making a pit stop at a Walmart down there to see if they had Maybelline’s new $10 The Blushed Nudes Palette.

She said that she’d looked all over for it up in the North Bay where we live to no avail, and that the closest place she could track it down was the Walmart right next to the concert venue.

A $10 dupe for Urban Decay Naked 3?

“Do you mind if we swing by?” she asked.

Uh…do I mind stopping by a store with a huge beauty section to look at makeup?

I said I didn’t.

Marisol said that she heard the palette was a $10 drugstore dupe for the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette.

“Of all the people I know,” she told me, “I thought you would understand.”

I did. 🙂

With a $10 dupe for Naked 3 on the line, shirtless Jordan Knight would just have to wait, LOL!

When we got to the Walmart, we made a beeline for the beauty department, where we found two Blushed Nude palettes in stock. I took it as a sign from the makeup gods that I needed to bring one of them home, and Marisol did too. She snagged the other one.

Forget about buying an overpriced New Kids t-shirt at the concert. This would be my souvenir instead. 🙂

The Blushed Nudes Palette by Maybelline: 12 eyeshadows in rose gold shades

With the rose gold packaging and 12 eyeshadows in rose gold shades, The Blushed Nudes looks a lot like UD’s $54 Naked 3 palette… Right? The resemblance is uncanny! For this one, it’s pretty easy to see where Maybelline got their inspiration.

Eyeshadow Trickery 101

But while very similar, there are some pretty big differences between the two.

Like first, the price. One is $10 and the other is $54.

That’s huge.

Second and third, the levels of pigment and shimmer. The Urban Decay Naked 3 shadows contain much more pigment and pearl. With them I think you definitely get more intense color and shine on your lids, but you can get there with the Maybelline Blushed Nudes eyeshadows. You just need to resort to a little makeup trickery.

Like you could…

Basically, use more. You can build up the Blushed Nudes shadows in layers, but you’re probably looking at using two or three times as many as you’d need with the Naked3s. Maybe five or six total layers with the lighter shades.
Intensify the colors by applying them with a wet brush.
Use your fingers instead of a brush, so you can really apply some pressure directly on your lids.

Of course, none of this is necessary if you actually want a softer, hazier eye look. Most of The Blushed Nudes shades are fairly sheer, so if that’s your agenda, your regular brushes would do you just fine.

Where are my mattes!?

And then there’s the whole matte situation… You get three matte shades — matte beige Strange, light matte pinkish taupe Limit and matte purplish taupe Nooner — in Urban Decay Naked 3, which are very handy as transition shades.

The Maybelline Blushed Nudes palette, on the other hand, has only one matte, a sheer pinkish taupe that looks like UD’s limit (only sheerer). I tried using it as a crease color…but I wasn’t too crazy about it. I had to use hella layers (I’m talking five or six) to have it really register on my medium skin tone, and even then I still couldn’t see it very well.

It may not be an issue for paler princesses, or if mattes just aren’t your thing, but if you’re around my shade (I’m a MAC NC42) or darker, or if you’re just all about that matte crease life, it’s something to consider.

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Ulta Adventures! One Girl’s Ongoing Quest to Find Bad$ss Beauty Bargains

January 15th, 2015 by Karen 34 Comments

Because, obviously, the most logical thing to do with that new Real Techniques Contour Brush you just picked up on sale on Ulta is use it to pretend you’re contouring your cat’s cheekbones.

Tabs contouring with his new Real Techniques Contour Brush…

Obviously!

Yeah, um, my brush stash is looking a little more robust these days — robust like my tabby! — because I went to Ulta last weekend and the Real Techniques brushes and brush kits were on sale.

They still are, too (buy one get the second one 50% off), and you know me and the word, “sale.”

I’m definitely my mother’s daughter. 🙂

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Maybelline Is Staking a Claim on Cute Corals With Master Hi-Light Powder Blush in Coral, a Bonafide Drugstore Gem

June 6th, 2014 by Karen 7 Comments

Maybelline Master Hi-Light Powder Blush — Wearing Maybelline’s Master Hi-Light Powder Blush in Coral ($9.99) on my cheeks

Let the record show that as of today, in my official capacity as the mayor of this little beauty burg, I formally proclaim this to be the season to go totally and completely bat-sh*t cra-zay-zay for coral.

*BEEP*

(The beep is supposed to make it official.)

Who’s with me?! 🙂

Lately, everywhere I go, I feel like a makeup prospector mining coral gems on shelves and counters, and these are the coral gold rush days.

“Eureka!” I frequently exclaim. There are just so many gorgeous corals out there these days, like this Master Hi-Light Powder Blush in Coral by Maybelline, waiting for nice cat ladies (and other friendly folks) to discover them.

Dude, I almost can’t believe this is only $10! — because it looks like a $42 Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick on my cheeks, only better. I get that same ethereal Shimmer Brick glow with it, but with a more diffused and forgiving finish.

Hi-Light contains a bit of everything — an illuminator, a bronzer and a blush — all in one pan.

I’ll usually swirl my brush around in it to mix the products together and apply that to my cheeks for a softly blended coral glow. Then I’ll run a finger across the lightest shade in the pan, and apply that down the bridge of my nose, on my upper cheekbones and on my Cupid’s bow as a highlighter.

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$9 Maybelline Color Elixir By Color Sensational Lip Gloss Beams Brightly on Lips

May 23rd, 2014 by Karen 11 Comments

Ooh! So shiny…

Something primitive kicks in whenever I see the mirror-like shine of Maybelline’s Color Elixir by Color Sensational lip gloss ($8.99) on my lips.

I wonder if I have leftover genes from a cave girl who was more interested in collecting shiny rocks and staring into sparkly rivers than gathering dried sticks for the community fire (BO-RING).

Perhaps.

These have been out since fall 2013, but this is my favorite time of year for this kind of shine. The non-sticky medium-weight formula lasts about two hours on my lips and shines like a lacquer.

Um…the flavor and scent? I think they’re a tad unusual, like jasmine and earl gray tea perfume, if that makes any sense. I don’t mind it. It’s just a little…strange.

Maybelline Color Elixir By Color Sensational in 015 Mandarin Rapture, 02 Signature Scarlet and 095 Blush Essence — From the left: 015 Mandarin Rapture, 02 Signature Scarlet and 095 Blush Essence

“Experience saturated lip color, sensuous balm care and polished lip shine from Maybelline New York Color Elixir by Color Sensational. The exclusive smoothing angora brush delivers a polished, even application and smoothing sensation to lips. The balm infused formula, with pure color pigments, leaves lips feeling cushiony soft.”
– ulta.com

Maybelline Color Elixir By Color Sensational in 020 Signature-Scarlet — 020 Signature-Scarlet

Maybelline Color Elixir By Color Sensational 095 Blush Essence — 095 Blush Essence

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Maybelline’s $7.49 Color Sensational The Buffs Lipsticks in Blushing Beige and Stormy Sahara Promote Acts of Pigmented Public Nudity

May 23rd, 2014 by Karen 18 Comments

Maybelline Color Sensation The Buffs in Stormy Sahara — Wearing Maybelline Color Sensational The Buffs in Stormy Sahara

When we met at the drugstore, they were full-on nude. None of that halfway bullsh*t.

Maybelline Color Sensation The Buffs in Blushing Bride (left) and Stormy Sahara (right) — Color Sensational The Buffs Lipstick in Blushing Beige (left) and Stormy Sahara (right)

Stormy Nude, the bolder of the two, was the first to start talking. “$7.49. For each. One layer. Full coverage. Satin finish.”

“How about wear time?” I asked.

“Three to four hours,” replied Stormy. “With a moisturizing formula.”

I considered the terms. The faint scent of vanilla and — plastic? — floated in the air.

“Is that…?” I started to ask.

“Vanilla, yes,” answered Stormy, guessing at my question. “Taste like it, too.”

I let the plasticky part go. The other terms were agreeable.

I took a step forward and put out my hand. Stormy grabbed it and we shook. Then, right there in the middle of the store, we all got totally and completely nude.

It was glorious. 🙂

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